We’re here to help. From student loans and monthly payment plans to financial support, we’re confident we can help you find a flexible payment option that’s right for you and could even mean you pay nothing at all.

Comparing university fees?

The cost of full time OU study (120 credits) works out at £5400 per year.*

* 2015/16 prices; fees normally increase annually in line with inflation and the University's strategic approach to fees.

Check the course description for detailed fee information.

Additional costs

If you choose to study a residential school module, you will be responsible for the cost of travel to the venue and an additional charge to cover the cost of accommodation and meals.

There may be additional costs associated with study such as a laptop, travel, set books and internet access.

Paying for your study

Part-Time Tuition Fee Loans

OU students can apply for a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan (also known as a student loan). It's the most popular way to pay for study – over 60% of our new students in England are paying this way.

Student Finance England pays your fees, which you pay back later in affordable monthly instalments, and only when you’re earning over the income threshold, currently £21,000.

Nothing to pay upfront.

Available for undergraduate qualifications that are at a higher level than any you already hold.*

Part-Time Tuition Fee Loans aren't means tested so it doesn't matter how much you earn.

There's no upper age limit.

Available for part-time study, even if you have a job.

You won’t be asked to start repaying your loan until the April four years after the start of your qualification or the April after you leave, whichever comes first.

Repayments are linked to your income to ensure they’re affordable – for example, if you earn £25,000 you’ll pay just £30 a month.

Even if you plan to study at full-time equivalent intensity with us, you still apply for a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan.

*You may be eligible for a loan for some qualifications even if you already have a degree. This will be indicated on the relevant qualification pages.

How to apply

First, register with us on the qualification you’d like to study, choose your modules and tell us you’ll be applying for a loan. Then, once Student Finance England is open (expected late April), we will remind you to get your loan in place. You should apply for a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan starting in the 15/16 academic year. This will take about 15 minutes and you should have your passport and National Insurance number to hand. It can take as long as six weeks to finalise applications, so apply as soon as possible to make sure your student finance is in place for the start of your course.

Other ways to pay

Pay as you go – find out more about an account with Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA) and the option of paying for your study in instalments as you go. You must be at least 18 years of age and credit is subject to your financial circumstances and status.

Pay up front – by debit or credit card when you sign up for each module.

Employer sponsorship – around one in ten OU students are sponsored by their employer. If your study relates to work, your employer may be prepared to pay some or all of your fees.

Credit transfer

If you have already studied at university level, you may be able to count it towards your Open University qualification – reducing the number of modules you need to study. It’s not just study completed at a university that can be considered, you can transfer study from a wide range of professional qualifications as well. A full list of the qualifications and institutions we can consider for credit transfer can be found on our credit transfer website.

You should apply for credit transfer before you register, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where and when and you will need to provide original evidence of your previous study. We will compare this against the learning outcomes for your chosen qualification and inform you of any award.

For more details of when you will need to apply by and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.